LOS ALAMOS, N.M., April 16, 2001 -- Brad Baker, a former adjunct physics faculty member at New Mexico Tech, swept three men's fencing events and took first place overall at the 2001 New Mexico Division Fencing Championships, held last week at the Pueblo Complex in Los Alamos.

Baker, who describes himself as a "part-time Socorro resident," fenced at the competition as a member of the New Mexico Tech Fencing Club and won gold medals in épée, sabre, and foil. Baker currently resides in Colorado.

Other members of the Tech Fencing Club also fared well at the state championships: Jeff Kerns placed ninth in men's épée, second in men's sabre, and fourth in men's foil; while Dom Peterson finished fourth in men's épée, third in men's sabre, and third in men's foil.

The state fencing competition, which is sanctioned by the U.S. Fencing Association, provides qualifying competitors a path to the National Fencing Championships to be held in July in Sacramento, Calif.